Blind structure



Dec. 16, 19 2 N. L. ETTEN Y 9 7 BLIND STRUCTURE Filed March 14, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I .ZEWFEIWZET Nicholas Effen b g "W 5 21 155 Dec 16, 1952 N. L. ETTEN 2 BLIND STRUCTURE Filed March 14, 1951 4 Nicholas" L. Etien- E 5 ZLZZ'LFE Dec. 16, 1952 N. L. E'TTEN 2,621,723

' BLIND STRUCTURE Filed March 14, 1951 4-SheetsSheet s .ETY'ETi ZUT .M'clzoicza L. Efterz Dec. 16, 1952 N, Tr N 2,621,723

BLIND STRUCTURE Filed March 14, 1951 .4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nicholas I L. E'zftezl Patented Dec. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,621,723 BEE -n U T RE Nicholas -L.'-Etten, Cedar Falls, Iowa Application lvlareh 14, 1951, Serial No. 215,469

4 glaims. (01.160-34) This invention relates to improvements in a blind structure, and more particularly to a blind structure of the permanent or semi-permanent type mountable over a window or other opening on the outside of a building, or which canbe-built in flush with the wall of the building incorporated during the erection of the building, and which blind is adjustable in a vertical direction, althoughthe invention may have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the part.

In the past, many and various types of blind structures or sunshades of the so-called permanent type have been developed for mounting over a window or other opening onthe external side of a building. Most of that type of a blind is made of sheet metal or equivalent material. In

every instance of which I am aware, formerly known blinds of the permanent type have extended out over the upper portion ofthe window at an angle defined by the use of allochiral end -panels of triangular shape supporting a. suitable canopy. In-somecases, suchblinds were adjust- ;able or foldable, only from the outside of the building, and atno time did they completely cover the Window or other opening if it-were desired to do so. Further, they were not adjustable to a desired extent ina verticaldirection over all or-a portion of the window, could not be used in :a manner eliminating the need of any blind on the inside of thewindow-if desired, projected an objectionable distance outwardly from the'building, :were not in keeping in most cases .with the architecture of the building necessitating airequent sacrifice of external-appearance in order to benefit by an exterior blind, were not as universal in character 1 as desired, and were obj ectionably expensive both inoriginal cost and upkeep.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important pbject of the instant invention to provide a blind occupying. a minimum space and projecting to a minimum extent from a building, the blind structure being of such character that regardless of :is of the permanent type, and-which is so constructed as to eliminatev the need of any blind-or T equivalent on theinsideof the window,- ifthe user so desires.

It is also an object of this inventionto provide -;a blind structure 'for disposition onthe external side of a building ovena -windowor other Opening,

which is fully adjustable over allor part of the window, in a vertical direction.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a blind structure so arranged that it may be adjusted to completely enclose a window over the outside thereof in the event the occupants leave the building for a period olftime.

It is also a feature of the invention to provide a blind structure; mountable over the outside of a window or other building opening, which is verticallyadjustable to cover any desired amount'of the window, which permits vision from the interior outwardly, prohibits ordinary exterior vision through the window into the interior, and yet provides adequate ventilation.

Another desideratum or this invention is the provisionof .a, blind structure mountable over the outside of a window or other building opening, which structure includes a plurality of spaced slats extending transversely across the window opening, which slats are movable bodily in a verticaldirection.

Also a desideratum is the provision of a blind structure of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph, wherein the slats slope outwardly and downwardly, and the angl withthe horizontal of each. slat increases as the slat moves downwardly.

Stilla further object of the invention resides in the provision of a blind structure wherein a plurality of spaced transversely extending slats are carried by corresponding lazy-tong assemblies at each .end of vthe slats, such assemblies being concealed by the frame of the blind structure.

It is also 'an object of the invention to. provide a blind structure embodying corresponding lazytong assemblies at opposite sides of the frame, with spaced transversely extending slatstattached to links of theassembly, or with theendsfof the slats iforminglinks of the respective assemblies.

structure-embodying principlesof the instant invention rnounted overa-window of abuilding, and

sh i th wblisd iniu l cl s 'bc ii f Figure 2 is also a pictorial view similarjin charburr s-t bli dli part l Blgure; 3 a is an enlarged ,iragmentary vertical 1 31 .s c dna V e h ;u porti th blind structure taken substantially as indicated by the line III-III of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar in character to Fig. 3, but taken through the lower portion of the blind structure, as indicated by the line IVIV of Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the cord arrangement by which adjustment of the blind slats is obtained;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, taken substantially is indicated by the line VIVI of Fig. 3;

Figure 7 is also a fragmentary plan sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, taken substantially as indicated by the line VII-VII of Fig. 4;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the upper portion of blind structure, this figure being similar in character to Fig. 3, but showing a somewhat'different form of construction; and

Figure 9 is a view similar in general character to Fig. 4, but showing the lower portion of the blind structure of Fig. 8.

As shown on the drawings:

In the first illustrated embodiment of the instant invention, seen in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, and

with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a blind structure embodying a box-like frame I which may be made of any suitable material, such as sheet metal. This frame is provided with opposed narrow border panels 2--2 at the front thereof, which are preferably only of sufficient width as to conceal the actuating mechanism of the blind. At the top thereof, the open front frame is provided with a valance 3 extending downwardly a sufficient extent to conceal all of the internal blind structure when the same is adjusted to fully open position. As seen best in Figs. 3 and '7, the sides of the frame, including the border panels 2-2, are somewhat channellike in shape, the rear flange thereof being supported by a vertically extending angle iron 4, one flange of which is secured to the frame and the other flange of which may be secured to the building wall 5 by means of screw 6 or equivalent fastening means. With reference now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that, if desired, side braces I of any suitable construction may be employed.

With reference again to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the entire frame structure of the blind may be mounted to the building wall 5 around the frame of a window 8, and the frame does not project an objectionable distance from the wall of the building. At this point it should be noted that since the entire blind structure is contained within the frame I, this frame could be incorporated inside the building wall so that the outer portion of the frame would be flush with the outside wall of the building if done during erection of the building. Likewise, the frame I might be embodied in an interior partition of the building, with or without a window in the partition, so that the blind structure might be utilized to effect a temporary closure of a doorway or the like through such partition.

The blind mechanism is identical in construc" tion, except for the allochiral characteristics of certain parts, at each side of the frame I. With reference now to Figs. 3, 4, 6 and '7, it will be seen that the structure at one side of the frame embodies a channel-like track 9 riveted or equivalently secured to the sides of the frame I as indicated at I0 and bolted or equivalently secured to the respective border panel 2 as indicated at II. This track, of course, is rigid. A lazy-tong assembly extends vertically along the side of the frame I, and this assembly embodies an anchoring link I2 having its upper end anchored by a pivot pin I3 extending through the upper part of the track and the adjacent side of the frame as seen clearly in Figs. 3 and 6. As is usual with a lazy-tong assembly, a series of parallel links I4 are pivotally connected to another series of parallel links I5 in a manner to form a succession of connected X's. Thus, one of the links It will have an upper terminal pivot connection It to the lower end of a link I4, is centrally pivoted to another link I4 as at I1, and has a terminal pivot I8 at its lower end with the upper end of still a third link I4. Connected to the shaft of each terminal pivot I8, or only to a part of them if so desired, is a roller H! which rides Within the aforesaid channel track 9 as seen clearly in Figs. 3, 4 and '7. These rollers being locked in the channel tracks insure a straight u and down movement of the lazy-tong assembly and maintain that assembly in fixed location relatively to the frame, except for the vertical adjustability of the assembly.

Now with reference to Figs. 3 and l, it will be seen that with the exception of the several uppermost links I5 which are always behind the valance 3, these links I5 carry transverse slats 23 which are substantially box-like in shape in that they have forward, rear, and end flanges. These slats are preferably made of thin sheet metal. The slats 29 may be attached to the links I5, or if so desired, the end flanges of these slats may form the links I5, depending upon which may be more economical and feasible with a particular production system. Being associated with the links I5, the slats 2G slope outwardly and downwardly, and the angle of these slats with the horizontal increases as the slats move downwardly by virtue of the lazy-tong assembly mountings for the slats. Thus, when the slats are in fully lowered position as seen in Fig. 1, the window is completely enclosed so as to preclude ordinary external vision through the window, permit some vision from the interior out, and provide adequate ventilation by virtue of the fact that the spacing between the slats is never completely closed.

A simple arrangement for adjusting the slats upwardly or downwardly is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 5, wherein a cord 2I has one end secured as at 22 to the lowermost foreshortened link I 4. The cord then extends upwardly over a pulley 23, downwardly to form an elongated loop 24, thence upwardly over a pulley 25, across the entire upper part of the frame, and over a pulley 28 at the opposite side of the frame, or the right hand side, as viewed in Fig. 1, from which pulley the cord depends and is secured to the terminal slat I4 on the other side of the frame. It will be noted, therefore, that it is a simple expedient to pull on the loop 2 holding both reaches of the cord, and the blind will be elevated. It is a simple expedient to anchor the blind in a desired position of elevation by merely Winding the loop 24 about a cleat 21 mounted on the inside of the blind frame next the window. When it is desired to lower the blind, the loop 24 is released from the cleat, and the blind permitted to drop by gravity to the desired extent.

It will be noted that the entire blind structure projects only a minimum extent from the wall of the building, or not at all if incorporated in that wall. The blind may be simply adjusted to obscure the window to any desired extent. If the occupants leave the building for a period of time, the blind may be lowered to its full extent and thus effect a complete closure of the Window. It will also be apparent that the entire structure including the slats and the frame may be decorated with any desirable color or color combinations. The entire structure embodies simple stampings, simple securing means, may be very economically manufactured and is extremely durable.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a modified form of structure wherein a frame la is utilized which must of necessity employ wider end rails, that is the frame projects farther from the building than the frame I above described. This frame la is provided with the same valance 3 and interiorly with the same channel track 9 as above described. Lazy-tong assemblies are provided at each side of the frame, but in this instance these assemblies include an elongated anchoring link I2a, a series of parallel links M and a series of elongated parallel links I511. The parallel links 5a are associated with the links l4 by terminal pivots l6, intermediate pivots I1, and another pivot 28 which is terminal in character insofar.

as the link it is concerned, but is substantially centrally of the elongated links I5a, which project well forward of the pivot point 23. The lower and forward ends of the links Ilia carry rollers 29 to ride the track 9. Slats 39, of the same general character as the above described slats 20, are secured to the projecting portions of the links Ilia as indicated at 3| by bolts or in an equivalent manner. The arrangement of the adjusting cord 2| is substantially of the same character as previously described, with the exception that the end of the cord is associated with the intermediate part of the lowermost link I5a as indicated at 32 in Fig. 9.

The blind structure shown in Figs. 8 and 9 functions in the same manner as that above described in connection with Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, and is desirable where added space is desired between the window or other opening and the blind. With the exception of additional space occupied, and a slight increase in the cost of manufacture, the modified structure of Figs. 8 and 9 possesses all the advantages of the first described embodiment.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a blind, a frame for disposition around a window, a lazy-tong assembly on each side of said frame for vertical movement, alternate links of said assemblies projecting beyond their terminal pivots at one side of each assembly, and transverse slats carried by the projecting portions of said alternate links.

2. In a blind, a frame for disposition around a window, a lazy-tong assembly on each side of said frame for vertical movement, alternate links of said assemblies extending forwardly and downwardly beyond their outer terminal pivots, and transverse slats carried by the extending portions of said alternate links.

3. In a blind, a frame for disposition around a window, a lazy-tong assembly on each side of said frame for vertical movement, alternate links of said assemblies extending forwardly and downwardly beyond their outer terminal pivots, transverse slats carried by the extending portions of said alternate links, a vertical track at the outer part of each side of said frame, and rollers to ride said tracks mounted on said extending links adjacent the outer corners of said slats.

4. In a blind, an open-front box-like frame for disposition around a window opening, an inwardly opening channel track in each side of said frame, a lazy-tong assembly at each side of said frame, a series of rollers carried by each assembly to ride said tracks, an inturned flange on each track to lock the respective rollers therein, vertically spaced slarts connected to said assemblies, and border panels on said frame concealing said assemblies and the ends of said slats.

NICHOLAS L. ETTEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,311 Roy May 11, 1943 604,329 Judge May 17, 1898 1,302,093 Shomaker Apr. 29, 1919 1,893,182 Seregi Jan. 3, 1933 1,999,421 Petris Apr. 10, 1935 2,467,431 Kellogg Apr. 19, 1949 

